The
season-ending skid that followed
the Gamecock’s 6-1 start
last year has to have left a
bitter taste in every players’
and coaches’ mouth. That’s
good, for the five-game collapse
to end 2007 scuttled the No.6
BCS ranking they had attained
by week seven, and this year’s
team is even better on paper
in many ways. Such a lingering
memory needs to be a chip on
the Gamecock’s collective
shoulders, something that motivates
them to overcome the disappointment
and convincingly surpass last
year’s mid-season accomplishments.
Knowing fourth-year coaching
legend Steve Spurrier, lessons
like these are sure to be applied,
if not indelibly carved onto
each team member’s facemask.

Still,
this is an SEC team that has
yet to win its division and
is just catching up to their
big brothers in the East for
recruiting. Looking up at Georgia,
Tennessee and Florida –
the only schools to ever win
this ever-toughening conference
half – means South Carolina
can still play the underdog,
a position Spurrier covets and
uses to its utmost advantage
as unsuspecting giants overlook
his team. Being overlooked may
not happen as much with 17 returning
starters, 17 of the same guys
who handed then-No.11 (now No.2)
Georgia and No.8 Kentucky their
first ’07 losses.

The
QB battle has been less than
forthright in clarifying the
best field general; both penciled-in
starter Beecher and former starter
Smelley (4-2 in ’07 when
first-string) did anything but
impress this spring, prompting
a cover-up by OC Spurrier as
he embellished his observations
to onlooking reporters during
this season’s initial
practices. Pushing the passing
dimension like usual all spring,
even with the marginal aerial
results, seems dubious; Spurrier
needs to lean on his rushing
game more if he knows his QBs
aren’t true stand-and-deliver
types. Realistically, they will
be game managers, guys who can
minimize mistakes and who will
benefit from an extra DB being
constantly pulled into the box
to stop a formidable ground
attack. The Gamecocks only out-rushed
three foes all of 200. If they
can just get back to averaging
around 150 ypg on the ground
(like they did in ’04
and ’06), consistency
could work for the offense -
instead of the sporadic nature
of a marginal passing game putting
extra pressures on this defense.
The line just has to improve
for any offensive wrinkle to
work with so many talent position
players stacked to impress their
Palmetto patronage.

Speaking
of defense, only a few pieces
are new. Otherwise, it looks
like lessons learned can be
lessons applied for better results
this time around, especially
with so many returning starters
hungry to avenge the ’07
embarrassment. Last year saw
too many young players who weren’t
ready for the SEC grind put
in pivotal positions they shouldn’t
have been in yet. This year,
eleven with significant starting
experience feature only four
seniors, complimenting how last
year’s four top tacklers
were sophomores. The SEC’s
top pass defense loses two key
reserves but none of its prowess,
with super athletic Chris Culliver
pushing all four upperclassmen
on the two-deep ahead of him.
The other change is DE Eric
Norwood (T-7th in TFLs) being
switched out for SLB Cliff Matthews,
a move that has each returning
to their respective natural
positions for which each was
originally recruited. That now
makes this possibly the biggest
LB corps in the FBS, so we will
see how underneath coverages
fare. Only injuries can keep
the defense from being one of
the SEC’s best, no small
accolade in this conference.

Last
year’s schedule was the
ninth-toughest after all was
said and done, and South Carolina
again gives itself the chance
to become the best by playing
some of the best. There is no
warm up period with N.C. State
and the Gamecocks starting off
the nation’s 2008 college
football season in a Thursday
night primetime spectacle. Then
another Thursday night ESPN
showing at Vandy is followed
by a home game with No.2 Georgia,
who is eager for revenge, and
this is all before September
is half way through! The real
challenge comes when LSU kicks
off the five-game closing span
which basically mimics the same
gauntlet that took the Gamecocks
down to close last year. It
will be much more impressive
(and a harbinger for 2009) if
a mundane beginning is then
followed by a peak out ending,
one that sees South Carolina
go at least 3-2 versus their
final five tough foes. This
is a very realistic scenario
- the Gamecocks likely start
slowly and improve steadily
as the final stretch elicits
their best football and forces
them to find wins for bowl eligibility.
Unpredictable, topsy-turvy,
gun slinging…these are
all words that have followed
Spurrier and his offenses around
since he began coaching at Florida
(1978). This approach often
produces the win, but more often
provides a brand of football
that is both “old school”
and effective, the kind of football
that is fun to watch and always
spices up the conference race.

Another
year, another set of hurdles Spurrier
and his staff will have to get their
guys over to make the most of their
offensive potential. This is one of
the top offensive minds of all-time
in the college ranks, so do not underestimate
what the man from Johnson City (TN)
can do with only modest means.

QUARTERBACK
Spurrier saw the writing on the wall
last year and he made sure Chris Smelley
played lots of reps, a dividend that
he thought would pay off in ’08.
Sure enough, Smelley is the most experienced
signal caller, but this former Alabama
Gatorade Player of the Year (2005)
has yet to hit his stride. Spring
proved that neither Smelley nor junior
counterpart Tommy Beecher has taken
command, but Beecher gets the starting
nod based on making less potential
mistakes. Spurrier on where his QBs
are at…“We need to go
through [more] preseason practice.
I found through all my years in coaching
that some quarterbacks can really
get better through the summer. Chris
and Tommy have three months to understand
the game and make good, quick decisions."
Beecher is a roundabout legacy since
his uncles played for Spurrier at
Duke in the ‘80s, and he does
have a strong pedigree. Beecher differentiated
himself after Smelley threw five INTs
in the spring game…the fact
that Beecher threw three of his own
in the spring scrimmage that didn’t
allow for pass rushing and/or blitzes
(and featured mostly second teamers
from the back seven), you can see
why Spurrier wants more from the guys
who play his former Heisman-winning
position. That leaves the door slightly
open for last year’s No.4 dual-threat
prospect Stephen Garcia, but Garcia
has put himself on the backburner
by being suspended until August 15th.
The odds of Garcia and/or one of the
two incoming froshes seeing much time
under center are bad, but Spurrier
has been known to go through his field
generals at a rapid pace when in search
of his best option under center. Too
much talent is here to think Spurrier
won’t coach his QBs up for maximum
performance levels to be reached.
In
an offense that throws it more than
they run between the tackles, plenty
of chances will come around for someone
to make plays through the air.

RUNNING
BACK
Looking at the Gamecock offense from
another angle, the only reason this
running game ranked so poorly (101st)
was due to a lack of commitment. All
four games in which USC ran it less
than 30 times were losses (longest
run of the year for the entire team
was 29 yards). Stopping the USC ground
game seems like an easy plan that
will work for foes until this offense
proves otherwise. The Gamecock ground
game works when employed, and senior
Mike Davis has the soft hands to be
the kind of back that this offense
can continue to count upon. Davis,
who was given just 35 carries over
the last six games of ’07 due
to maturity issues, will run in tandem
with sophomore Brian Maddox. Davis
seems to be getting to class and embracing
the lead-by-example role he’s
being forced into due to so much youth
behind him needing to learn the ropes/system.
Traditionally seen here, two backs
work to keep legs fresh. And since
Davis and Maddox both couple their
big 220+-pound bodies with formidable
speed, defenders cannot tell what
the play will be just because the
TBs sub out for each other. True FB
Pat DiMarco will shift out to TE to
get more playing time, but we think
South Carolina should stick to two-back
sets so DiMarco can get a head of
steam as he plows for his teammates.
But, hey, this is a passing offense
and he blocks well from any position.
This still leaves a need for a small,
quick back to do damage in open space.
Freshman Eric Baker is the only choice
Spurrier has, so consider the lack
of depth within the different running
gears a weak point that limits the
attack (in a day when RBs are often
used creatively to line up outside).

RECEIVER
/ TIGHT END
Both TEs have extensive roles already
- Jared Cook had the highest yards-per-catch
average (14.0) for any South Carolina
snarler with more than five catches,
and ex-DE Weslye Saunders uses his
275lbs to open plays up in many ways.
Big receivers are nothing new for
Spurrier. Freshman Joe Hills needs
to learn how to read coverages better,
but he’s a sure deep threat
(at 6’4) who will win many one-on-one
battles before DB coaches start to
mark him more closely. Dion Lecorn
has to watch his size – Coach
thinks he can be the next great WR
to come out of last year’s class
if Lecorn can stay focused and lean.
The juniors Brown – Moe and
Freddie – have both stepped
into leadership roles with McKinley
out of spring practices (turf toe).
McKinley, last year’s leading
SEC receiver and a former dual-threat
QB, will be shuffled all over in attempts
to get mismatches and to find the
Mableton (GA) product some open space
in which to run. Besides this year’s
incoming class, the WRs – unlike
the RBs – are stacked, awaiting
their chances.

OFFENSIVE
LINE
If you take away the sack yards lost,
the Gamecocks prove themselves capable
of running at a 4.5 yards per carry
clip. All the experienced line has
to do is learn from the tough lessons
the SEC taught them and 2008 will
show improvements on offense. The
tackles started every game together,
but senior Jamon Meredith is out for
the first two games due to being granted
a medical hardship waiver. Opening
with N.C. State and a trip to Vandy
don’t make it easy for Hutch
Eckerson, who has been getting the
most first-team reps due to having
more experience than Quintin Richardson.
But, like last year’s trial-by-fire
that led to the five-game skid, the
OL will be more for Eckerson and Richardson
taking a few early lumps. Garrett
Anderson has been suffering through
a disc problem in his back, so Seaver
Brown has been shifted over to compensate.
Anderson’s troubles may actually
produce a better starting five since
Brown has been doing a better job
throughout off-season practices in
Anderson’s center slot. The
move of Lemuel Jeanpierre to offense
has proven fruitful; the former DT
also has heeded tough lessons to give
depth to any inside spot. The same
goes for how Gurminder Thind’s
backup capacity affords promise of
improvements along the OL. Heath Batchelor
is the final example of growth from
last year paving the way for optimism
in ’08 – starting the
final three games as a freshman assures
he will play better after the off-season
clarified his experience and what
is needed for an improved showing.

The
main question now becomes whether
Spurrier & Son do the usual and
force the offense to be a passing
machine primarily. This will, in turn,
force the (so far) mediocre talent
levels of their marginally developed
QBs to be either quickly purged or
unfortunately exposed… or do
they work more at developing the running
dimension with the iffy OL, potentially
making opponents stack the box and
thus creating winnable, over-the-top
chances for the eager Gamecock WRs?
We think the latter works best to
start, but Spurrier is that infamous
riverboat gambler-type who will probably
choose the former and attempt to fit
a round peg into a square hole all
season. Hopefully, his peg becomes
square or his hole becomes round,
or he risks another campaign of unfulfilled
potential within his offense.

WR
Kenny McKinley

SOUTH
CAROLINA 2008 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters/Key
Players

OFFENSE

QB

Tommy
Beecher-Jr (6-2, 227)

Chris
Smelley-So (6-2, 216)Stephen
Garcia-Fr (6-2, 221)

FB

Patrick
DiMarco-So (6-1, 242) (TE)

Bryan
Kingrey-Sr (6-1, 230)

TB

Mike
Davis-Sr (5-9, 214)

Brian
Maddox-So (5-11, 220)

WR

Kenny
McKinley-Sr (6-0, 182)

Larry
Freeman-Sr (6-1, 223)

WR

Dion
Lecorn-So (5-11, 220)

Freddie
Brown-Jr (6-3, 209)

WR

Moe
Brown-Jr (6-0, 186)

Joe
Hills-Fr (6-4, 202)

TE

Jared
Cook-Jr (6-5, 242)

Weslye
Saunders-So (6-5, 273)

OT

Jamon
Meredith-Sr (6-5, 301)

Quintin
Richardson-Fr (6-4, 289)

OG

Seaver
Brown-So (6-5, 307)

Gurminder
Thind-Sr (6-4, 281)

C

Garrett
Anderson-Jr (6-4, 307)

Ryan
Broadhead-Fr (6-5, 270)

OG

Heath
Batchelor-So (6-7, 308)

Lemuel
Jeanpierre-Jr (6-3, 293)

OT

Justin
Sorensen-Sr (6-7, 327)

Hutch
Eckerson-So (6-6, 291)

K

Ryan
Succop-Sr (6-3, 224)

Spencer
Lanning-So (5-11, 178)

Stephen Garcia QB 6-2/221 RS FR

2008
DEFENSE

Ellis
Johnson is the new coordinator brought
in to replace three-week hire Brian
Van Gorder, who didn’t stay
long after the Atlanta Falcons inquired
about his plans. Johnson's loudest
message to his players this spring
has been this one: teams that play
the most physical and are the toughest
mentally are the ones that win in
the SEC. It has been difficult to
instill the new approach in just 15
spring practices, so the changes may
keep the D from starting out as strong
as many expect with so many faces
back. Brought in from Mississippi
State, Johnson inherits a young-but-experienced
group that loses only a handful of
members. Only four of the eleven returning
starters are seniors (Lindsey started
six games in ’06), and like
on offense, lumps taken last season
will strengthen the resolve for the
evolving youth movement.

DEFENSIVE
LINE
Run stopping was a real problem, seeing
how every foe broke the 100-yard mark
and how the three biggest point totals
allowed in ’07 were to three
of the four teams that ran for the
most yards. Couple in how Johnson’s
last Mississippi State crew also struggled
mightily against running teams LSU
and Arkansas, and you see why much
has to be proven on the field for
the Gamecocks DL before spring practice
reports of progress along the will
be believed. The first and foremost
change is All-American Eric Norwood’s
move to LB. In his place, we find
Cliff Matthews, a DE recruit who was
shifted to LB and started nine games
there in ‘07. Matthews is looking
better at his natural position (more
on Norwood later). The other end will
again be Jordin Lindsey, who started
six games in ’06 before his
academic problems kept him sidelined
all of last season. Lindsey was the
Outstanding Defensive Player in the
Liberty Bowl the last time he strapped
on a USC helmet, so his return has
to help. Ex-OT Gaethers, possibly
the most physically gifted of the
DLmen, and classmate Robertson weren’t
ready last year as true freshmen,
but they were prototypical of many
who were rushed into service before
reaching the levels needed. The interior
will also find improvement through
maturity. Sophomore Ladi Ajiboye will
prove why coaches were drooling about
how much better he seemed this spring.
This Freshman All-American (and All-SEC)
of Nigerian descent is being labeled
“dominant”, and Ladi moves
quickly enough for a DT to earn such
a tag. Marque Hall also moves especially
quickly for his 300+ frame. The fifth-year
senior never bounced back last year
at quite the same level from a 2006
knee injury. He is rumored to have
an uphill journey after more surgery
this past off-season has Hall again
fighting to keep his starting status.
Jonathan Williams has been flooring
throughout workouts and scrimmages,
impressing the coaching staff enough
so that losing Hall’s best effort
won’t sting too much. Another
knee injury took Nathan Pepper out
of the 2007 ranks, but Pepper can
play end also, making him a needed
cog. If Kendrick Ellis can keep his
weight down, he also has a place in
the tackle rotation. The line looks
improved, but N.C. State will let
all know if the Gamecocks can again
stop the run as needed to get back
over .500.

LINEBACKER
Norwood as a linebacker is an interesting
proposition – MLB Jasper Brinkley
already tips the scales at 270lbs
(listed at 275), so how much speed
can guys this big (Norwood is 270lbs)
really bring for matching up against
TEs/WRs/HBs/RBs when they line up
in passing situations? DC Johnson
on Norwood’s switch to OLB from
DE: “He's bright mentally, so
he can handle it. He can learn both
the linebacker spot, then switch up
and be a rush (end) in the dime package."
The rest of the corps is properly
sized for running down field 50 or
more yards at a hurried shot. Rodney
Paulk has started since his true freshman
campaign and finished as the team’s
top tackler from those also at this
position. Marv Sapp will back up Jasper
Brinkley at MLB once all are healthy,
but Brinkley out this spring gave
Paulk and Marvin Ingram the chance
to play the middle, giving promising
results as the corps becomes stronger
each day. Sinclair will have to keep
his efforts consistent to hold of
Shaq Wilson, an early enrollee who
has turned many heads. "He [Wilson]
came in and it was like we've been
coaching him for three years,"
Johnson said. "He already knows
a lot of stuff. You don't have to
worry about him repeating mistakes."
The compliment of linebacking types,
if managed properly, will result in
improved defensive results across
the board.

DEFENSIVE
BACK
One area we know is already strong
is the Gamecock’s top SEC pass
defense. Confidence within the secondary
abounds - only allowed to run three
basic coverages in the final spring
scrimmage, the DBs killed with mostly
second team guys filling as the starters
were rested to keep them healthy.
The biggest unveiling has been top
receiver prospect Chris Culliver switching
sides and fortifying the already-strong
safety slots. His speed (4.28-seconds
in the 40) has translated well…so
far. Ex-triple jumper Darian Stewart
is in front of the former five-star
WR recruit, but Culliver also stepped
in when Emanuel Cook sat out after
breaking his thumb, so he will be
able to play Rover or FS this fall.
Cook started his first game as a true
frosh and has improved steadily, finishing
’07 with a stat line that boasts
“All-American” for ’08
(his four sacks were second on the
team only to Norwood). The salutes
for CB Captain Munnerlyn piled in
(All-SEC First Team, coaches and Rivals)
and will continue to come for the
breakout junior who plays much bigger
than his 5’9 frame brags. Ex-WR
Carlos Thomas is the lone senior amongst
the DB starters, though, leadership
will come from each of them as the
coverage units are old hat for the
veterans. Stoney Woodsen is a smoking
nickel, capable of starting when you
consider how he had even more tackles
last year than Thomas. The DBs will
be left on islands regularly; zone
coverages will be the different looks,
a good change-up that will challenge
opposing QBs on obvious passing downs.

The
decline on D in ’07 over the
last three games has to be worn as
a chip on their collective shoulders.
Some have even said this could be
the top defense in the toughest defensive
league, but until they reflect consistency
over 12 regular season games, this
stopping unit will have to re-earn
any superlatives which have recently
slipped through their fingers.

DB
Emanuel Cook

SOUTH
CAROLINA 2008 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters/Key
Players

DEFENSE

DE

Cliff
Matthews-So (6-4, 250)

Clifton
Geathers-So (6-7, 290)

DT

Marque
Hall-Sr (6-3, 314)

Kenrick
Ellis-So (6-5, 353)

NT

Ladi
Ajiboye-So (6-1, 300)

Jonathan
Williams-Sr (6-2, 290)
Nathan Pepper-Jr (6-1, 292)

DE

Jordin
Lindsey-Sr (6-3, 261)

Travian
Robertson-So (6-4, 270)

SLB

Eric
Norwood-Jr (6-1, 270)

Yvan
Banag-Sr (5-10, 235)

MLB

Jasper
Brinkley-Sr (6-2, 275)

Marvin
Sapp-Sr (5-11, 228)

WLB

Rodney
Paulk-Jr (6-0, 226)

Dustin
Lindsey-Sr (6-4, 242)

CB

Carlos
Thomas-Sr (5-11, 197)

Addison
Williams-So (5-8, 181)

CB

Captain
Munnerlyn-Jr (5-9, 185)

Stoney
Woodson-Sr (5-11, 197)

SS

Emanuel
Cook-Jr (5-10, 214)

Mike
Newton-Sr (5-11, 190)

FS

Darian
Stewart-Jr (5-11, 218)

Chris
Hail-Jr (5-10, 199)

P

Ryan
Succop-Sr (6-3, 224)

Spencer
Lanning-So (5-11, 178)

2008
SPECIAL TEAMS

Ryan
Succop is the Gamecock’s kicking machine
– his punting efforts need to be met
half way by the coverage teams, but his
field goal kicking is solid from inside
of 40 yards. Spencer Lanning is the same
kind of all-around foot, and watch for Beecher
to hit some quick-kicks for field-position
wins. Culliver keeps his runback status
on kickoffs, but Munnerlyn, the PR guy,
can handle both jobs if any of the other
speedsters don’t fill the void.